Andy Carson and Stephanie Kralevich, two of the Metro area’s most popular weather personalities, will take the reins of the 53rd Annual Beaverton Celebration Parade as Grand Marshals of this year’s event. The parade begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 18, and is immediately followed by the annual Old Town Festival, a family-friendly festival featuring entertainment, fun and food in the heart of historic downtown.

“We are delighted and honored to have Andy and Stephanie leading this year’s Celebration Parade,” said Mayor Denny Doyle. “I’m sure the same spirit they bring into our living rooms will be felt during the parade as they serve as this year’s Grand Marshals.”

Carson can be seen daily, Monday through Friday, on FOX 12’s Good Day Oregon and PDX TV’s More Good Day Oregon. Carson started his professional broadcast career in the Pittsburg, Kansas/Joplin, Missouri market in 1991 and moved to Portland in 1996. Previously, Carson interned for the then NBC show Late Night with David Letterman.

Kralevich is a weekend meteorologist and also reports on weekdays. Kralevich was born and raised in Gresham. She graduated from the University of Oregon School of Journalism and began her news career in Eugene. She moved on to report and forecast the weather at stations in Medford, Boise and Spokane. Kralevich finished Mississippi State University's Broadcast Meteorology program in 2004 and joined the Fox 12 team in December 2005.

Beaverton’s Celebration Parade began in 1957 and has grown into a community tradition.
Area high school marching bands, colorful floats, and civic and cultural organizations will be cheered on by spectators as they make their way through the streets of Beaverton. The parade is presented by the City of Beaverton with support from many corporate and civic sponsors including Bob Lanphere’s Beaverton Honda, Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District, Tri-Met, the Beaverton Valley Times, and the Beaverton School District.

PARADE ROUTE
The parade route begins at Beaverton Christian Church on SW Allen Boulevard at SW Menlo Drive, turns north onto SW Erickson Street, east on SW 5th Street, north again on SW Watson and then onto Broadway and into Old Town Beaverton. One of the easiest ways to get to the parade is to take MAX to the Beaverton Central stop at The Beaverton Round and walk a few blocks. Note that streets are closed to vehicular traffic near the Parade route starting at 9 a.m. on the Saturday of the parade. A map of the parade route is available at www.beavertonoregon.gov/parade.

ABOUT BEAVERTON (www.BeavertonOregon.gov)
Beaverton was one of just four cities of its size recently recognized as a "Smarter City" energy leader by the Natural Resources Defense Council and one of the 100 Best Places to Live in America by Money Magazine. In addition, Beaverton has been named the safest city in the Pacific Northwest for three consecutive years, as one of the best places to raise kids by BusinessWeek magazine, an All-America City finalist, one of the 100 Best Walking Cities in America by Prevention Magazine, the Recycler of the Year from the Association of Oregon Recyclers, a Tree City USA, a Bronze Award Bicycle Friendly community designation by the League of American Bicyclists and as one of the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Communities. Beaverton also enjoys the most diverse population (by percentage of population) among Oregon cities. For more information, please visit www.beavertonoregon.gov.